Automatic dispensing nozzles



p 9 w. D. souoo'r ETAL. 3,341,075

AUTOMATIC DISPENS ING NOZZLES Filed Oct. 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet E INVENTORS WILLIAM DONALD BOUDOT F g Q ATTORNEYS.

' P 1967 w. D. BOUDOT ETAL 3,341,075

AUTOMATIC DISPENSING NOZZLES Filed Oct. 23; 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet I5INVENTORS WILLIAM DONALD BOUDOT ROBERT w. GUERTIN v ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 12, 1967 w. D. BOUDQT ETAL 3,341,075

AUTOMATIC DISPENSING NOZZLES Filed Oct. 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IF" l9INVENTORS. WILLIAM DONALD BOUDOT ROBERT W. GUERTIN ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,341,075 AUTOMATIC DISPENSING NOZZLES WilliamDonald Boudot and Robert W. Guertin, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors toDover Corporation, Cmcinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct.23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,373 17 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The operating lever of the automatic shutolf dispensingnozzle is pivotally carried on the end of a spring actuated axiallyreciprocable plunger which is locked in position by a latching memberwhich is moved axially of said plunger into latching and unlatchingposition. The latching member is carried by and moved by a diaphragmwhich is actuated either by air pressure or by mechanical meanscontrolled by a timer means. The mechanical means includes a leverwherein one arm actuates the diaphragm and the other arm is actuatedthrough a cam follower and cam driven by said timing means.

This invention relates to an improved automatic shutoff dispensingnozzle for gasoline pumps or the like as well as to improved parts fromsuch a dispensing nozzle or the like.

It is well known that automatic shutoff dispensing nozzles for gasolinepumps or the like have been provided wherein the manual lever of thenozzle for causing fluid flow therethrough can be locked in its openposition with the nozzle inserted into the vehicle tank filler pipewhereby fuel will flow through the nozzle until a sensing means of thenozzle determines that the filler pipe has been filled to the desiredlevel and automatically causes the lever toreturn to its nozzle shutoffposition.

However, it has been found that a large number of gasoline sales atfilling stations and the like are made in dollar increments of gasolinewhereby the operator must actuate the dispensing nozzle in a manualmanner so that the customer will only receive the selected dollar amountof gasoline. Thus, it can be seen that the gasoline pump attendant isnot free to render additional service to the customer when the customerdesires a monetary increment amount of gasoline or the like.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, timer means isincorporated into the aforementioned automatic shutoff dispensing nozzlein such a manner that the gasoline pump attendant can set the timer sothat a predetermined amount of gasoline will flow therethrough during aselected period of time so that when the selected period of time haslapsed, the dispensing nozzle will be automatically closed regardless ofwhether the gasoline fuel tank has been filled or not. In this manner,the gasoline pump attendant can supply a desired amount of gasoline inan automatic manner so as to be free to render other services to, theparticular customer.

For example, the timer means of this invention can be so constructed andarranged that the gasoline pump attendant can move a timer pointer to apredetermined position, as determined by the monetary increment ofgasoline requested by the customer, so that the nozzle can be utilizedin an automatic manner to provide an amount of gasoline approximately 5or 10 below the requested amount whereby the attendant can subsequentlymanual- .ly dispense the remaining 5 or 10 of gasoline after the nozzlehas been automatically shut otf.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedautomatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having in FIGURE 2 to raise thestern one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinaftershown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such adispensing nozzle or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are aparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a partthereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of the improved automatic shutoffdispensing nozzle of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the dis pensing nozzleillustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of part of themechanism illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional View taken on line4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of the various operating partsof the device illustrated in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various partsof the mechanism illustrated in FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to 'FIGURE 3 and illus trates anotherembodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken online 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various partsof the mechanism illustrated in FIG- URE 10.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for gasoline pumpdispensing nozzles, it is to be un derstood that the various features ofthis invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof toprovide dispensing means for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-3, an improved automatic dispensing nozzle ofthis invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 andincludes a housing means 11 having an inlet 12 adapted to beinterconnected to a fuel pump or the like and having an outlet spout 13interconnected to the inlet 12 by a valve seat 14, the valve seat 14being opened and closed by a valve member 15 normally urged to theclosed position by a compression spring 16.

The valve member 15 carries a stem 17 engageable by a manually operatedlever 18 pivoted to a movable plunger 19 by pivot means 20. Since theplunger 19 is normally locked in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2,in a manner hereinafter described, the lever 18 is adapted to bemanually moved from the full line position illustrated in FIGURE 2 tothe dotted line position illustrated 17 upwardly in opposition to theforce of the compression spring 16 whereby the valve member 15 is movedto an open position.

In'order to latch the lever 18 in its fully open position, a latchmember 21 is pivotally mounted to the housing 11 by a pivot pin 22, thelatch member 21 normally being urged to the full line position by a leafspring 23 in a conventional manner. However, when the lever 18 is movedto the dotted line position illustrated in FIGURE 2, and the latchmember 21 is moved in a clockwise direction to its dotted line position,it can be seen that the latch member 21 will hold the lever 18 in itsvalve opening position until the lever 18 is automatically or manuallyreleased from the latch member 21 in the manner hereinafter described.

The axially movable plunger 19 is normally urged to the positionillustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 by a light compression spring 24, theplunger 19 carying a plurality of metal balls 25 disposed in slots 26therein and normal- 1y forced outwardly into locking engagement withshoulder means 27 of the housing 11 by a latch member 28 receivable in abore 29 of the plunger 19.

The latch member 28 is normally urged to the position illustrated inFIGURE 3 to latch the plunger 19 in the illustrated position thereof bya compression spring 30 disposed against a housing portion 31 and acup-shaped retainer 32 operatively interconnected to the latch member 28by a threaded fastening member 33, a flexible diaphragm 34 beingdisposed between the cup-shaped retainer 32 and the latch member 28 andhaving its outer periphery sealed between a surface 35 of the housing 11and a surface 36 of another housing 37 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

The housing 37 defines a chamber 38 with the diaphragm 34. The chamber38 is adapted to be evacuated when fuel is flowing through the openmember 15 and reaches a level in the vehicle filler pipe to cover theopen end of a conduit 39 disposed in the spout 13 whereby the diaphragm34 is moved upwardly by air pressure and carries the latching member 28therewith so that the balls 25 can move radially inwardly and clear theshoulders 27. When the balls 25 move radially inwardly and clear theshoulders 27, the force of the compression spring 16 forces the lever 18downwardly, as the plunger 19 is adapted to move downwardly, whereby thelever 18 kicks free of the latch member 21 and is adapted to move to itsclosed position as illustrated in full lines in FIG- URE 2 whereby thevalve member 15 automatically closes against the valve seat 14 toterminate the flow of fuel through the nozzle 10.

Such automatic closing of the valve member 15 when the fuel level in thevehicle tank filler pipe has reached the level of the end of the conduit39 is fully disclosed in the patents to Briede, No. 3,085,600, issuedApr. 16, 1963, and Duerr, No. 2,582,195, issued Jan. 8, 1952.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, improved meansare provided for automatically raising the diaphragm 34 to unlatch themember 28 when a predetermined period of time has lapsed toautomatically control the flow of fuel through the nozzle in relation totime, in addition to the automatic shutoff means thereof previouslydescribed and set forth in the aforementioned U.S. patent.

In particular, it can be seen that the housing 37 includes a manuallywind timer means 40 having a control knob 41 provided with a pointer 42.When the knob 41 is rotated a desired distance in a timer wind updirection, the timer means 40 automatically runs for a period of time,dependent upon the position of the pointer 42, so that when the periodof time has lapsed, the timer means 40 of this invention willautomatically raise the diaphragm 34 to unlatch the plunger 19 andpermit the lever 18 to move from its latched on position illustrated indotted lines in FIGURE 2 to its unlatched position illustrated in fulllines in FIGURE 2 so that only a pre determined amount of fuel will flowthrough the nozzle 10.

While the timer means 40 can comprise any suitable timer means, one suchtiming means is a commercial type spring wound timer movement.

The timer motor 40 includes an operating shaft 43 which will be rotatedby the timer motor 40 for a purpose now to be described.

An operating arm 44 has a bore 45 receiving the end of the shaft 43whereby the arm 44 will be rotated in unison with the shaft 43, the arm44 rotatably carrying a cam roller 46 on the end 47 thereof for apurpose hereinafter described.

The other arm 54 of the lever 48 is bifurcated and is adapted to havethe ends 55 thereof received under an outwardly directed flange 56 ofthe cup-shaped retainer 32 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The operation of the dispensing nozzle 10 of this invention will now bedescribed.

Assuming that the gasoline station attendant desires to utilize thedispensing nozzle 10 so as to dispense a desired monetary increment ofgasoline, the attendant turns the knob 41 to an indicated positionthereof for the particular monetary increment of gasoline whereby thetimer motor 40 is wound up and the arm 44 is disposed in the positionillustrated in full lines in FIGURE 4. In this manner, the force of thecompression spring 30 holds the diaphragm 34 in its plunger latchingposition as illustrated in FIG- URE 3. Thereafter, the operator insertsthe spout into the filler pipe and locks the handle 18 in the dottedposition illustrated in FIGURE 2 so that the valve member 15 will belocked in its open position whereby gasoline can flow from the inlet 12out through the outlet spout 13 into the vehicle filler pipe. As thegasoline flows through the nozzle 10, the timer motor 40 is operating tocontinuously move the arm 44 in FIGURE 4 in a counter clockwisedirection whereby as the selected increment of time is lapsing, the camroller 46 comes into engagement with the end 53 of the lever 48 andgradually pivots the same from the full line position illustrated inFIGURE 3 to the dotted line position illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby thediaphragm 34 is pulled upwardly in opposition to the force of thecompression spring 30 by the pivoting lever 48. When the diaphragm 34has been pulled upwardly sufficiently to release the latch member 28from the balls 25 whereby the balls 25 can move radially inwardly, theforce of the compression spring 16 kicks the lever 18 downwardly torelease the same from the latch member 21 so that the lever 18 can bemoved to its closed position by the compression spring 16 and terminatethe flow of fuel therethrough.

Therefore, it can be seen that the dispensing nozzle 10 of thisinvention not only permits the gasoline station attendant to completelyand automatically fill the gasoline tank of the vehicle or the like inthe manner set forth in the aforementioned patent, but also thedispensing nozzle 10 of this invention is adapted to dispense desiredincrements of gasoline based upon the position of the timer knob 41 inits wind up direction.

While the dispensing nozzle 10 of this invention has been illustrated ashaving a gradual movement of the lever 48 to move the diaphragm 34 fromits latching position to its unlatching position, it is to be understoodthat the diaphragm 34 could be moved to its unlatching position by asnap action if desired.

In particular, another dispensing nozzle of this invention is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 64 in FIGURES 6-8. Since the majorportion of the dispensing nozzle 64 is identical to the dispensingnozzle 10, like parts thereof will be designated by like referencenumerals.

As illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, the timer shaft 43 of the timer motor40 has a square shaped end 65 receivable in a complementary bore 66 of acam disc 67 whereby the shaft 43 is fixed to the cam disc 67 but looselyreceives another cam disc 68 through a bore 69 thereof, the cam disc 67having smooth camming surfaces 70 and 71 while the cam disc 68 has asubstantially traight radial camming surface 72 for a purposehereinafter described.

The cam disc 67 carries a pin 73 receivable in a slot 74 of the cam disc68 to provide a lost motion driving connection therebetween for apurpose hereinafter described.

A snap action lever 75 is pivotally mounted to the bottom plate of timermotor 40 by a pivot pin 76, the snap acting lever 75 carrying a pin 77engageable with the cam discs 67 and 68. The lever 75 has an end or arm78 adapted to be engageable with the arm 53 of the lever 48.

The lever 75 is normally urged to pivot about the pin 76 in acounterclockwise direction in FIGURE 7 by. an extension spring 79 havingone end 80 fastened to the lever 75 and the other end 81 thereoffastened to a pin 82 carried by the bottom plate of timer motor 40.

The operation of the dispensing nozzle 64 of this invention will now bedescribed.

Assuming that the gasoline pump attendant desires to dispense a monetaryincrement of gasoline through the nozzle 64, the attendant rotates theknob 41 in the proper direction by rotating the shaft 43 in acounterclockwise direction in FIGURE 7 whereby the lever 48 is adaptedto assume the position illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 6 so that theplunger 19 will be in its latched position.

However, as the timer shaft 43 begins to run in a clockwise direction,see FIGURE 7, the same causes the cam disc 67 to also rotate in aclockwise direction whereby a lost motion will be created between thedisc 67 and the disc 68 until the pin 73 of the disc 67 picks up thedisc 68 whereby the surface 72 of the disc 68 will be disposed outwardlyfrom the camming surface 71 of the disc 67 in the manner illustrated inFIGURE 7.

With the discs 67 and 68., rotating in a clockwise direction in FIGURE7, it can be seen that eventually the radial straight surface 72 of thedisc 68 will move adjacent the pin 77 of the lever 75 whereby theextension spring 79 will pull the pin 77 radially inwardly toward theshaft 43 with a snap action whereby the arm 78 of the lever 75 will movefrom the full line position illustrated in FIGURE 7 to the dotted lineposition illustrated in FIGURE 7 with a snap action to pivot the lever48 and raise the diaphragm 34. Raising of the diaphragm 34 unlatches theplunger 19 to permit the nozzle 64 to automatically terminate the flowof fuel therethrough in the same manner as set forth for the dispensingnozzle previously described.

When it is desired to subsequently turn the timer knob 41 back toanother increment of time position, the knob 41 is turned in the properdirection to cause the shaft 43 in FIGURE 7 to be turned in acounterclockwise direction. Since the disc 68 will remain stationarywhile the disc 67 is turned, because of the lost motion between the pin73 and slot 74, it can be seen that the surface 71 of the cam disc 67will be moved forwardly in front of the straight radial camming surface72 of the disc 68 to cause the pin 77 of the lever 75 to be cammedoutwardly to the position illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 7.

When it is desired to return the timer knob 41 to its off position, theknob 41 is turned in the proper direction to cause the shaft 43 to beturned in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 7. It should be noted thatwhen the pin 77 rode inwardly along the straight radial cam surface 72of the disc 68, it caused relative movement of the disc 68 with respectto the disc 67 due to the lost motion arrangement of the pin 73 and theslot 74. Thus, as soon as the shaft 43 begins rotation in the clockwisedirection in FIGURE 7, the disc 67 initially moves while the disc 68remains stationary until the pin 73 reaches the position in the slot 74as shown in FIGURE 7.

When in this position, the surface 70 of the disc 67 will engage the pin77 before surface 72' of the disc 68. Thus, the surface 70' of the disc67 will wedge the pin 77 outwardly against the force of the spring 79 toreturn the pin 77 to a position wherein it rides on the cam disc 67 asshown in full lines in FIGURE 7.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the dispensing nozzle v64 of thisinvention is adapted to abruptly stop the flow of fuel therethrongh witha snap action provided by the spring 79. Further, it can be seen thatthe dispensing nozzle 64 of this invention is also adapted to terminatethe flow of fuel therethrough when the vehicle filler pipe has beenfilled to the desired level in the manner provided for the dispensingnozzle 10' previously described as Well as to provide desired incrementsof time filling therefor.

While only one form of latching means 28 has been provided for theplunger 19, it is to be understood that the various features of thisinvention can be readily usable with other types of latching means.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 9 wherein another dispensing nozzle ofthis invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 83 andhas the parts thereof that are similar to the dispensing nozzle 10indicated by like reference numerals. However, the timer means 40 isdisposed at an angle relative to the plane of the diaphragm 34 and has acam 84 fixed to the end of the shaft 43 for engaging a beveled surface85 on an end 86 of a stem 87 interconnected to the diaphragm 34.

In this manner, the timer means 40 can be set for the desired incrementof time and, when the selected period of time has lapsed, the rotatingshaft 43 will cause the cam 84 to raise the stem 87 and, thus, raise thediaphragm 34 so that the manual lever will be unlatched in the mannerpreviously described.

Further movement of the shaft 43 moves the cam 84 away from the stem 87so that the diaphragm 34 can reset the latching mechanism for furtheruse thereof.

Thus, it can be seen that the dispensing nozzle 83 not only provides formonetary increments of fuel to flow therethrough, but also thedispensing nozzle 83 permits the same to be automatically shut off whenthe tank filler pipe has been filled to the desired level in the mannerset forth in the United States patents to Duerr, No. 2,582,195, issuedJan. 8, 1952, and Briede, No. 3,085,600, issued Apr. 16, 1963.

Referring to FIGURES 10-12, there is shown another dispensing nozzle ofthis invention as generally indicated by the reference number 90.Various parts of this embodiment that are the same as parts of othermodifications will be indicated by the same reference numeral.

As illustrated in FIGURES 11 and 12, the timer shaft 43 of the timermotor 40 has the square shaped end 65, which is receivable in acomplementary bore 91 of acam disc 92 whereby the shaft 43 is fixed tothe cam disc 92. The cam disc 92 includes a circular portion 93 and acam 94, which is smaller than the portion 93. The circular portion 93 isdisposed closer to the bottom plate of the timer motor 40 than the cam94.

The cam 94 has its periphery formed with a circular portion 95 ofconstant radius, a substantially straight radial inwardly extendingportion 96, and a slow rise portion 97. The portion 96 extends from oneend of the circular portion towards the axis of rotation of the shaft43. The portion 97 rises slowly from the inner end of the portion 96until it reaches the other end of the circular portion 95.

A spring strip 98 has a projection 99 extending therefrom forpositioning within a slot 100 in the circular por- A set screw 101engages the projection 99 to attach the spring strip 98 to the circularportion 93.

As shown in FIGURE 11, the strip 98 has one end 102 in contact with thecircular portion 95 of the periphery of the cam 94 at its junction withthe slow rise camming portion 97. The spring strip 98 has its other end103 spaced from the other end of the circular portion 95 of theperiphery of the cam 94 adjacent its junction with the radial cammingportion 96.

A snap action lever 104 is pivotally mounted to the bottom plate of thetimer motor 40 by a bolt 105 and a nut 106. A spacer 107 surrounds thebolt 105 between the top of the lever 104 and the bottom plate of thetimer motor 40. The snap action lever 104 carries a pin 108, which ridesalong the periphery of the cam 94 of arm 53 of the lever 48 when thelever 104 is in the dotted line position of FIGURE 11.

The lever 104 is continuously urged to pivot about the bolt 105 in aclockwise direction in FIGURE 11 by an extension spring 110. Theextension spring 110 has one end 111 fastened to the lever 104 at theend, which is remote from the end 109. The spring 110 has its other end112 fastened to a pin 113, which is carried by the bottom plate of thetimer motor 40.

Considering the operation of the dispensing nozzle 90, it should beunderstood that the cam disc 92 has the pin 108 positioned on thecircular portion 95 of the periphery of the cam 94 beyond the end 102 ofthe spring strip 98 when the timer knob 41 is in its off position. Whenit is desired to dispense a monetary increment of gasoline through thenozzle 90, the knob 41 is rotated in the proper direction to cause theshaft 43 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 11. Thisrotation of the shaft 43 results in the pin 108 moving from the circularportion 95 of the periphery of the cam 94 onto the exterior surface ofthe spring strip 98.

As the shaft 43 and associated square shaped end 65 rotatecounterclockwise in FIGURE 11, the strip 98 moves inwardly as the end103 is approached by the pin 108 due to the force of the spring 110urging the lever 104 clockwise about the bolt 105. Accordingly, the end103 of the spring strip 98 moves inwardly to form a continuation of thecircular portion 95 of the periphery of the cam 94 to permit the pin 108to move onto the circular portion 95. End 103 immediately returns to theposition of FIGURE 11 after pin 108 has moved onto the circular portion95. It should be understood that the minimum rotation of the timer knob41 must be sufficient to rotate the cam disc 92 to position the pin 108on the circular portion 95 of the periphery of the cam 94. It is notleft on the spring strip 98.

As soon as the timer knob 41 has been set and released, the timer motor40 causes clockwise rotation of the shaft 43 in FIGURE 11. When the camtimer 92 is rotated clockwise beyond the position shown in FIGURE 11,the pin 108 rides down the radial camming portion 96 of the periphery ofthe cam 94 to cause the end 109 of the lever 104 to engage the arm 53 ofthe lever 48. As previously mentioned, this occurs with the lever 104 inthe dotted line position of FIGURE 11.

The timer motor 40 continues to run until the cam disc 92 has rotatedclockwise sufficiently to move the pin 108 along the slow rise portion97 and onto the circular portion 95 of the periphery of the cam 94. Theend 102 of the spring strip 98 is pushed away from its contact with thecam 94 to allow the pin 108 to exit from the portion 97 onto the portion95. The strip 102 immediately returns to the position of FIGURE 11 afterthe pin 108 has moved from the portion 97 to the circular portion 95 ofthe periphery of the cam 94.

The engagement of the arm 53 of the lever 48 by the end 109 of the lever104 results in a pivoting of the lever 48 with a snap action. This movesthe diaphragm 34 upwardly to unlatch the plunger 19 whereby flow of fuelthrough the nozzle 90 is automatically terminated by the same means asset forth for the dispensing nozzle 10.

The nozzle 90 of FIGURES 12 allows the timer knob 41 to be set to thedesired monetary increment of fuel with only one turn of the knob 41. Ifthe spring strip 98 were not employed, it would not be possible to turnthe cam disc 92 counterclockwise in FIGURE 11 because the pin 108 wouldrest against the portion 96 of the periphery of the cam 94 and notpermit any further movement.

If the timer motor 40 of any of the nozzles 10, 64, 83, or 90 is stillrunning when the gas tank becomes filled, flow through the nozzle isautomatically stopped by the mechanism described in detail in theaforesaid United States Patent No. 3,085,600 even though the timer motor40 is still in operation. Thus, when the tank becomes filled, thepressure on the upper side of the diaphragm 34 is less than theatmospheric pressure on the lower side of the diaphragm 34 whereby thediaphragm 34 rises. This pulls the latch member 28 upwardly whereby theballs 25 move radially inwardly to allow the plunger 19 to drop andautomatically shut off flow through the nozzle.

When this happens, the cup-shaped retainer 32 also rises. However, thisdoes not effect the operation of the lever 48. Accordingly, if the lever48 should become wedged or locked in some position so as not to be ableto pivot, the cup-shaped retainer 32 can still be moved upwardly toautomatically cut off the flow when the tank is filled. A similaroperation occurs with the embodiment of FIGURE 9.

Therefore, it can be seen that the various features of this inventionare readily adaptable to be utilized with different latching means forthe manually operated lever of dispensing nozzles or the like wherebythe dispensing nozzle can have the flow of fuel therethrough controlledby increments of time selected by the gasoline pump attendant so that hecan automatically dispense monetary increments of fuel to performadditional services for the customer.

Thus, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide improvedautomatic shutoif dispensing nozzles or the like, but also thisinvention provides improved parts for such dispensing nozzles or thelike.

While the forms of the invention now preferred have been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat, a valve member for opening andclosing said valve seat, a pivotally mounted lever when in one positionopening said valve member and when in another position closing saidvalve member, a movable plunger pivotally mounting said lever to saidnozzle, latch means for holding said plunger in one position thereof, alatch member for holding said lever in said one position thereof, atimer means, a flexible diaphragm interconnected to said latch means,and mechanical means operatively interconnected to said timer means andto said diaphragm whereby said timer means moves said diaphragm in onedirection to unlatch said plunger after a period of time has lapsed sothat said plunger can move to another position thereof and release saidlever from said latch member to move to said other position thereof andclose said valve member, a cup-shaped retainer being carried by saiddiaphragm and said mechanical means including a pivotally mounted levermeans having one end engaging said retainer.

2. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat, a valve member for opening andclosing said valve seat, a pivotally mounted lever when in one pofionopening said valve member and when in another position closing saidvalve member, a movable plunger pivotally mounting said lever to saidnozzle, latch means for holding said plunger in one position thereof, alatch member for holding said lever in said one position thereof, atimer means, a flexible diaphragm interconnected to said latch means,and mechanical means operatively interconnected to said timer means andto said diaphragm whereby said timer means moves said diaphragm in onedirection to unlatch said plunger after a period of time has lapsed sothat said plunger can move to another position thereof and release saidlever from said latch member to move to said other position thereof andclose said valve member, a cup-shaped retainer being carried by saiddiaphragm and said mechanical means including a pivotally mounted levermeans having one end engaging said retainer, and said timer meansincluding cam means for camming said lever means.

3. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat, a valve member for opening andclosing said valve seat, a pivotally 'mounted lever when in one positionopening said valve member and when in another position closing saidvalve member, a movable plunger pivotally mounting said lever to saidnozzle, latch means for holding said plunger in one position thereof, alatch member for holding said lever in said one position thereof, atimer means, a flexible diaphragm interconnected to said latch means,and mechanical means operatively interconnected to said timer means andto said diaphragm whereby said timer means moves said diaphragm in onedirection to unlatch said plunger after a period of time has lapsed sothat said plunger can move to another position thereof and release saidlever from said latch member to move to said other position thereof andclose said valve member, a cup-shaped retainer being carried by saiddiaphragm and said mechanical means including a pivotally mounted levermeans having one end engaging said retainer, a spring means beingreceived in said retainer and tending to prevent movement of saiddiaphragm in said one direction.

4. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat, a valve member for opening andclosing said valve seat, a pivotally mounted lever when in one positionopening said valve member and when in another position closing saidvalve member, a movable plunger pivotally mounting said lever to saidnozzle, latch means for bolding said plunger in one position thereof, alatch member for holding said lever in said one position thereof, atimer means, and mechanical means operatively interconnected to saidtimer means and to said latch means whereby said timer means unlatchessaid plunger after a period of time has elapsed so that said plunger canmove to another position thereof and release said lever from said latchmember to move to said other position thereof and close said valvemember, said mechanical means including a pivotally mounted lever means,said timer means including cam means engaging said lever means to pivotsaid lever in one direction when said period of time lapses so that saidlatch means is unlatched from said plunger, said cam means including acam, a pivotally mounted member having a cam follower cooperating withthe periphery of said cam, and means to constantly urge said pivotallymounted member into contact with the periphery of said cam; said camhaving a part of its periphery shaped to cause movement of said camfollower so as to result in pivotal movement of said pivotally mountedmember in a direction to engage said lever means when said cam rotatesin one direction; and means to prevent said cam follower from engagingsaid part of the periphery of said cam when said cam rotates in theopposite direction.

-5. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat, a valve member for opening andclosing said valve seat, a pivotally mounted lever when in one positionopening said valve member and when in another position closing saidvalve member, a movable plunger pivotally mounting said lever to saidnozzle, latch means for holding said plunger in one position thereof, alatch member for holding said lever in said one position thereof, atimer means, and mechanical means operatively interconnected to saidtimer means and to said latch means whereby said timer means unlatchessaid plunger after a period of time has lapsed so that said plunger canmove to another position thereof and release said lever from said latchmember to move to said other position thereof and close said valvemember, said mechanical means including a pivotally mounted lever means,said timer means including cam means engaging said lever means to pivotsaid lever in one direction when said period of time lapses so that saidlatch means is unlatched from said plunger, said cam means including acam having a periphery with a circular portion of constant radius, aradial inwardly extending portion extending from one end of saidcircular portion, and a slow rise portion extending from the inner endof said radial inwardly extending portion to the other end of saidcircular portion; and resiliently biased means disposed across saidradial portion and said slow rise portion of the periphery of said cam,said resiliently biased means allowing a cam follower to follow saidradial inwardly extending portion and said slow rise portion when saidcam and the cam follower move relative to each other in one direction ofrotation and preventing the cam follower from following saidradial'inwardly extending portion and said slow rise portion when saidcam and the cam follower move relative to each other in the oppositedirection of rotation.

6. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat, a valve member for opening andclosing said valve seat, a pivotally mounted lever when in one positionopening said valve member and when in another position closing saidvalve member, a movable plunger pivotally mounting said lever to saidnozzle, latch means for holding said plunger in one position thereof, alatch member for holding said lever in said one position thereof, atimer means, and mechanical means operatively interconnected to saidtimer means and to said latch means whereby said timer means unlatchessaid plunger after a period of time has lapsed to that said plunger canmove to another position thereof and release said lever from said latchmember to move to said other position thereof and close said valvemember, said mechanical means including a pivotally mounted lever means,said timer means including cam means engaging said lever means to pivotsaid lever in one direction when said period of time lapses so that saidlatch means is unlatched from said plunger, said cam having itsperiphery formed with a first portion of constant radius, a secondportion extending radially inwardly from one end of said first portion,and a third portion of slow rise extending from the inner end of saidsecond portion to the other end of said first portion; and a springstrip disposed adjacent said second and third portions of the peripheryof said cam, said strip having one end forming a continuation of saidother end of said first portion and its other end spaced from said oneend of said first portion when said spring strip is in its restposition, said spring strip allowing a cam follower to move from saidother end of said first portion to said one end of said first portionwithout contacting said second portion or said third portion by ridingon said spring strip but allowing the cam follower to follow said secondportion and said third portion when moving from said one end of saidfirst portion to said other end of said first portion.

7. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat, a valve member for opening andclosing said valve seat,

a pivotally mounted lever when in open position opening said valvemember and when in another position closing said valve member, anaxially movable plunger pivotally mounting said lever to said nozzle,latch member for holding said plunger in one position thereof, a latchfor hold ing said lever in said one position thereof, a timer means andmechanical means operatively interconnected to said timer means and tosaid latch member said timer means moving said latch member in adirection axially away from said plunger to unlatch said plunger after aperiod of time has lapsed so that said plunger can move to anotherposition thereof and release said lever from said latch to move to saidother position thereof and close said valve member, said mechanicalmeans including a pivotally mounted lever means, one arm of which leverdirectly operates said latch member, and said timer means including cammeans engaging said lever means and pivoting said lever arm in 1 1 saiddirection when said period of time lapses so that said latch member ismoved therewith and unlatched from said plunger.

8. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle as set forth in claim 7wherein said cam means includes a roller mounted on an end of an armthat is rotated by said timer means.

9. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle as set forth in claim 7wherein said cam means includes a snap-acting member for pivoting saidlever means to its unlatching position with a snap action.

10. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle as set forth in claim 9wherein said cam means includes a pair of relatively movable cam platesrotatably driven by said timer means.

11. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle as set forth in claim 9wherein said cam means includes a cam having a periphery for cooperatingwith said snap-acting member to move said snap-acting member from itsinactive position to its unlatching position when said cam rotates inone direction, said cam having its periphery formed to return saidsnap-acting member to its inactive position during continued rotation ofsaid cam in said one direction, and means to maintain said snap-actingmember in its inactive position when said cam rotates in the oppositedirection.

12. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat, a valve member for opening andclosing said valve seat, a pivotally mounted lever when in one positionopening said valve member and when in another position closing saidvalve member, an axially movable plunger pivotally mounting said leverto said nozzle, latch member for holding said plunger in one positionthereof, a latch for holding said lever in said one position thereof, atimer means, a flexible diaphragm interconnected directly to said latchmember, and mechanical means operatively interconnected to said timermeans and to said diaphragm, said timer means through said mechanicalmeans, moving said diaphragm and said latch member in a directionaxially away from said plunger to unlatch said plunger after a period oftime has lapsed so that said plunger can move to another positionthereof and release said lever from said latch to move to said otherposition thereof and close said valve member.

13. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle as set forth in claim 12wherein said nozzle has means to create a vacuum on one side of saiddiaphragm to move said diaphragm in said one direction independently ofsaid timer means.

14. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle as set forth in claim 12wherein a spring means tends to resist movement of said diaphragm insaid one direction.

15. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle as set orth in claim 12wherein said mechanical means includes a cam member and a stem on saiddiaphragm, said cam being rotated by said timer means about an axisdisposed angularly to the axis of said stem.

16. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat;

a valve member for opening and closing said valve seat; means to movesaid valve member from its closed position to its open position and viceversa; means to releasably retain said valve member moving means in aposition where said valve member is in its open position; timer means toactuate said releasably retaining means to cause said valve membermoving means to move said valve member to its closed position; saidtimer means including a cam, a pivotally mounted member having a camfollower cooperating with said cam, and means to rotate said cam in onedirection to select the length of time before said timer means actuatessaid releasably retaining means; said timer means causing rotation ofsaid cam in the opposite direction after said cam has been rotated insaid one direction; said cam having a portion of its periphery shaped tocause movement of said cam follower after the selected length of timehas elapsed in direction to allow movement of said pivotally mountedmember to cause actuation of said releasably retaining means wherebysaid valve member moves to its closed position; and resilient meanssecured to said cam and bridging said shaped portion of its peripherypreventing movement of said cam follower of said pivotally mountedmember in the actuating direction when said cam is rotated in said onedirection.

17. An automatic shutoff dispensing nozzle having an inlet and an outletinterconnected together by a valve seat, a valve member for opening andclosing said valve seat, a pivotally mounted operating lever when in oneposition opening said valve member and when in another position closingsaid valve member, a spring actuated axially reciprocable plunger; saidplunger pivotally mountmg said lever to said nozzle, a latch member forlocking sa1d plunger in one position, a latch for holding said lever inone position, a timer means and mechanical means operativelyinterconnected to said timer means and to said latch member, said latchmember being movable axially of said plunger into latching andunlatching position, a diaphragm adjacent said plunger carrying saidlatch member and moving said latch member into latching and unlatchingposition, said diaphragm being actuated either by air pressure or bysaid mechanical means, said mechanical means including a lever whereinone arm thereof is operatively connected to the diaphragm, and a camfollower and cam driven by said timing means, and the other end of saidlever being actuated by said cam follower to actuate the diaphragm andmove said latch member axially of said plunger and into said unlatchedposition after a predetermined time to close the valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,869,758 1/1959 Hawkins et al.222 X 2,888,171 5/1959 Turner 22270 X 2,906,301 9/1959 Mannon 222-70 X3,205,922 9/1965 Davis et al. 22270 X ROBERT E. REEVES, PrimaryExaminer.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

1. AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF DISPENSING NOZZLE HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLETINTERCONNECTED TOGETHER BY A VALVE SEAT, A VALVE MEMBER FOR OPENING ANDCLOSING SAID VALVE SEAT, A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED LEVER WHEN IN ONE POSITIONOPENING SAID VALVE MEMBER AND WHEN IN ANOTHER POSITION CLOSING SAIDVALVE MEMBER, A MOVABLE PLUNGER PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID LEVER TO SAIDNOZZLE, LATCH MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID PLUNGER IN ONE POSITION THEREOF, ALATCH MEMBER FOR HOLDING SAID LEVER IN SAID ONE POSITION THEREOF, ATIMER MEANS, A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM INTERCONNECTED TO SAID LATCH MEANS,AND MECHANICAL MEANS OPERATIVELY INTECONNECTED TO SAID TIMER MEANS ANDTO SAID DIAPHRAGM WHEREBY SAID TIMER MEANS MOVES SAID DIAPHRAGM IN ONEDIRECTION TO